Hello everyone,
Although we have finished our fundraising cycling journey, we want to remain involved with the conservation of New Zealand´s precious nature. We will soon clean up the website so as to get the focus on conservation projects in New Zealand and Spain.
Why in these two countries?
New Zealand because we owe it to the people who helped us on our journey and made us see that there are many and easy ways to help preserve our natural treasures. Also, we now know that New Zealand is not the carefree paradise and safehaven for the fauna and flora that we thought it was before we got here.
Spain because it is where we now live and we are trying to set up a scheme to preserve Spain´s incredibly rich wildlife as well.
But first of all, I would like to tell you about a project we visited when we stayed with the Terblanche family in Rotorua. Apart from the warm welcome we received and the great time we had staying at their farm, which is set up as a bed and breakfast, we were amazed how concerned this family is with their direct environment and how they are restoring the natural habitat in the area.
On their land, they are systematically reforesting an area which is described here below, with details on how to reforest:
Total size of the area: approx 5500 square meters
Type of trees and shrubs: kanuka (Kunzea ericoides ), cabbage tree (Cordyline australis ), black mapou ( Myrsine australis ), broadleaf ( Griselinia littoralis ) , lemonwood ( Pittosporum eugenioides ), karamu ( Coprosma macrocarpa )and five finger ( Pseudopanax arboreus ). We planted 50 of each, except for kanuka (100 ), with the help of the Rotorua Kiwi Conservation Club children and parents. The trees were donated by Environment Bay of Plenty. Later on we added 10 of Tree Lucerne ( Cytisus palmensis ), which is a smallish, fast growing, short lived exotic, used to re-establish native forest by attracting birds.
What kind of pest control and pesticide: None so far. We mulched around each tree with pine needles to suppress growth of grass and weeds. This worked well, this week , 5 months after planting, I checked the trees and found only one out of the 400 that did not survive for some reason.
Is there a fence? We built a fence -- approx 110m long, to fence out stock.
What do they hope to achieve? Create an extension of native forest, that will link with existing Ngongotaha stream boundary forest ; and keep stock out of the small spring and stream that runs down towards the Ngongotaha stream , thereby improving water quality, add aesthetic value and attract native birds.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
From Taranaki to Ohiwa Beach
Hi, we are now at Ohiwa beach at a beachfront campsite in which we could easily spend the rest of our holidays ( which unfortunately it is not much), we will see how is the weather forecast fore the next days but I have to say that we are enjoying a lot the beach with Ella. Wouter is remaining his childhood and he spend the most of the time swimming and making sand castles, just as i told you, he spend yesterday almost two hours whit his fort but no worries you will see pictures if you do not believe me. It took us 5 days to arrive here from Ohakune, first we went to Napier where Wouter met a Catalan guy ( because Wouter was wearing his FCBarcelona T-shirt and the man came to him and said Força Barça, the team “frase” ). It is a nice city, with a lot of things for children like in the most of New Zealand towns. From there we wanted to drive to Lake Wekaramoana at Te Urewera. The next morning we drove to the lake and the main idea was to stay longer because there is plenty of things to do there but the wheater was not very nice. That’s why we decided to go back to the coast and drive towards East Cape. On our way we stop at Tologa bay, another incredible place with an inlet which we couldn’t cross because high tide. The campsite was settled just a few meters from the beach which was nice on one hand but on the other hand we were most of the night awake because of a massive storm and we were worried about the waves, but the next morning the sun was shining and dried very quick the tent . From there we went to Te Arora, the last town before the East Cape Lighthouse. We stopped there for lunch but the town was not really nice and we continued till Opotiki. It was a long drive day, and Ella was fed up to be seated in the car the whole day but when we arrived at the campsite fortunately they had a pool and Ella jumped in the pool without thinking but with clothes. A bit tired from so many days on the road the following morning we drove just 15 km to Ohiwa beach to relax, and here we are… and do not look for Wouter because while Ella is having a nap he is back into the sea.
From Picton to Ohakune
We took two tablets against seasickness and after three hours on the boat, we got back to the North Island and we continued our way to Egmont National Park. There we stayed at the Konini Lodge of the Department of Conservation in a place called Dawson Falls. We were at the foot of Mount Taranaki (2500m). At dawn, Taranaki colours gold and just when we wanted to take a photo of this extraordinary spectacle of colours, Wouter realised he left our camera behind in Hawea! But because we are very nice people, We were very lucky as well and the police found it, but too late to take that morning picture because the next morning was a bit too cloudy. We did a beautiful and long walk with Ella, almost 5 hours, she did really well. I really would like to climb up to the top but it seems to be a serious climb and with Ella we do not think it is a good idea, which means that we will come back in the future.
We decided to leave one day early because the weather started to be a bit nasty and we drove to Tongariro National Park through “ The forgotten world highway “ which is narrow and windy but lovely to drive through (well, maybe it was not that funny for Wouter who was driving the whole time). We got stuck there in a traffic jam…of sheep!!!. We stopped to spend the night at Tokaanu, because we were told about a place with mineral pools, where me and Ella spent the afternoon. From here we went to Ohakune: an Alpine Town at Mount Ruhapeu Skifields. Wouter was challenged to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing for 200 dollars. He did it together with Luke and Bill and he said that it is an easy walk that we could have done with Ella, maybe next time.
The next day we were heading for the East Coast.
We decided to leave one day early because the weather started to be a bit nasty and we drove to Tongariro National Park through “ The forgotten world highway “ which is narrow and windy but lovely to drive through (well, maybe it was not that funny for Wouter who was driving the whole time). We got stuck there in a traffic jam…of sheep!!!. We stopped to spend the night at Tokaanu, because we were told about a place with mineral pools, where me and Ella spent the afternoon. From here we went to Ohakune: an Alpine Town at Mount Ruhapeu Skifields. Wouter was challenged to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing for 200 dollars. He did it together with Luke and Bill and he said that it is an easy walk that we could have done with Ella, maybe next time.
The next day we were heading for the East Coast.
From Duniden to Picton
3 of March, It is 5 AM and we are in Picton, waiting for the ferry that wil take us back to the North Island. 16 days ago we parked our bicycles and started touring New Zealand Tour by car. We started in Duniden to work our way slowly back to Auckland . It seems, however, that we are in a hurry because we do not want to miss anything.
First we went to visit the Otago Peninsula with its gorgeous bays and rugged cliffs and at the end of the peninsula there is an Albatross colony, one of few left in New Zealand. Afterwords we went to Kaka Point in the Catlins, where we met a couple from Girona that were cycling as well: Eli and Edgar, and we were the first ones on being told about Eli´s pregnancy!!! I felt very happy for them, we went for a walk with them to Nugget Point, with its lighthouse and penguin colony, and we waited there to see them jumping on the shore going back to their nest. We saw seals as well, bathing in the sun on the rocks. The next morning we went to Curio bay, another penguin paradise and one of the few places were you can still watch Hector´s Dolphins; they are the smallest ones in the world and they can only be seen in New Zealand waters. It is estimated that there are only 3 to 4000 left . We were located at Tukuku Bay at a Lodge from Forest and Birds; we enjoyed the walks all around this area. We wanted to go back inland to see the magnificent Mount Cook ( almost 4000m), the highest mountain in New Zealand and it is really awesome. We stopped first at Pukeko lake where you can stop at Mount Cook Lookout and we spent the night at Tekapo Lake just 30 km from the first one. Both lakes very nice places and the colour of the water is something between turquoise and white, the water seems thick and when you try to skid stones on the water, it´s as if they can walk over the water, it is really amazing. As in every lake here in New Zealand there all plenty of people doing a lot of water sports. It seems as if in this country every family has at least a boat and a caravan.
Back to the coast we went to Chrischurch which is a very big city, and much more like an European city full of life and plenty of activity with big buildings, a cathedral, and big parks. We stopped there for lunch and after a walk we went to Akaroa situated in Banks Peninsula, another amazing place you do not want to miss . Akaroa is supposed to be the last French city that still remains since the French Colonisation and it is quite funny to walk around this city with the names in French, even the shops and the restaurants.
We spend there 2 nights and we met a couple from Mataró, a city close to Barcleona. We did some walks with Ella to some hidden beaches and of course, we could not avoid to sit at a restaurant in the harbour; we wanted just go for a walk because we bought dinner but the aroma of good good tickled our noses and we had to sit for dinner in a restaurant which we really enjoyed (I can still smell the flavour of the fish in my dish).
Back to the main road we followed the coast and it was an incredible scenery all along to Kaikoura. This place is the most famous in New Zealand to go whale watching and known as well as a Green and sustainable Community.
We preferred to leave for Golden Bay, which was our next stop. Two days later we arrived at Farewell Spit, a long and very narrow strip of land inside the sea and a huge bird sanctuary with a gannet colony . On one side of the Spit is the east coat and on the other side the west coast which just a few 100 meters between them but the difference between them is amazing. I have to tell you that Wouter found a whale bone which made him the happiest man in the world, of course it is now in our luggage. We decided to camp in a place called Wainanui, a very windy spot and putting up the tent was not an easy job but the next morning the wind stopped and we could go for a walk on the beach ( where it is forbidden to bath because of the dangerous currents). We then went to Totaranui, in Abel Tasman National Park. A 32 km-long gravel road from Takaka takes you there and it is really worth it. We spent the next 4 days in a beach front campsite from DOC. We met a brave French dad who was here on holiday with his 4 children! Ella loved to have them around, and we spent the next days on the beach with them. It was the first day we spent on the beach since we are on holidays. One of the days we spent there we took a water taxi from Totaranui to Tonga Bay and we did a bit of he Abel Tasman Track. Many of the places in New Zealand you can only visit by walking there.
In this way, nature stays well preserved and I have to say that NZ are doing it great, because they provide you with the tracks and places to stay during the “Traverse” and at the same time they can keep preserving this areas and the people can enjoy it. Unfortunately, the time arrived to leave the South Island and we had to take the ferry to Wellington. Taking the ferry marked the end of our South Island adventure and I have to say that we miss travelling by push-bikes, we were used to feel every sensation, smell the air and suffer till our next destination, hear every sound…and by car you can just smell petrol and hear the engine and you pass that fast that you miss a lot of things on the way which makes me very upset and angry many times because I can not even read the traffic signals!!!!
First we went to visit the Otago Peninsula with its gorgeous bays and rugged cliffs and at the end of the peninsula there is an Albatross colony, one of few left in New Zealand. Afterwords we went to Kaka Point in the Catlins, where we met a couple from Girona that were cycling as well: Eli and Edgar, and we were the first ones on being told about Eli´s pregnancy!!! I felt very happy for them, we went for a walk with them to Nugget Point, with its lighthouse and penguin colony, and we waited there to see them jumping on the shore going back to their nest. We saw seals as well, bathing in the sun on the rocks. The next morning we went to Curio bay, another penguin paradise and one of the few places were you can still watch Hector´s Dolphins; they are the smallest ones in the world and they can only be seen in New Zealand waters. It is estimated that there are only 3 to 4000 left . We were located at Tukuku Bay at a Lodge from Forest and Birds; we enjoyed the walks all around this area. We wanted to go back inland to see the magnificent Mount Cook ( almost 4000m), the highest mountain in New Zealand and it is really awesome. We stopped first at Pukeko lake where you can stop at Mount Cook Lookout and we spent the night at Tekapo Lake just 30 km from the first one. Both lakes very nice places and the colour of the water is something between turquoise and white, the water seems thick and when you try to skid stones on the water, it´s as if they can walk over the water, it is really amazing. As in every lake here in New Zealand there all plenty of people doing a lot of water sports. It seems as if in this country every family has at least a boat and a caravan.
Back to the coast we went to Chrischurch which is a very big city, and much more like an European city full of life and plenty of activity with big buildings, a cathedral, and big parks. We stopped there for lunch and after a walk we went to Akaroa situated in Banks Peninsula, another amazing place you do not want to miss . Akaroa is supposed to be the last French city that still remains since the French Colonisation and it is quite funny to walk around this city with the names in French, even the shops and the restaurants.
We spend there 2 nights and we met a couple from Mataró, a city close to Barcleona. We did some walks with Ella to some hidden beaches and of course, we could not avoid to sit at a restaurant in the harbour; we wanted just go for a walk because we bought dinner but the aroma of good good tickled our noses and we had to sit for dinner in a restaurant which we really enjoyed (I can still smell the flavour of the fish in my dish).
Back to the main road we followed the coast and it was an incredible scenery all along to Kaikoura. This place is the most famous in New Zealand to go whale watching and known as well as a Green and sustainable Community.
We preferred to leave for Golden Bay, which was our next stop. Two days later we arrived at Farewell Spit, a long and very narrow strip of land inside the sea and a huge bird sanctuary with a gannet colony . On one side of the Spit is the east coat and on the other side the west coast which just a few 100 meters between them but the difference between them is amazing. I have to tell you that Wouter found a whale bone which made him the happiest man in the world, of course it is now in our luggage. We decided to camp in a place called Wainanui, a very windy spot and putting up the tent was not an easy job but the next morning the wind stopped and we could go for a walk on the beach ( where it is forbidden to bath because of the dangerous currents). We then went to Totaranui, in Abel Tasman National Park. A 32 km-long gravel road from Takaka takes you there and it is really worth it. We spent the next 4 days in a beach front campsite from DOC. We met a brave French dad who was here on holiday with his 4 children! Ella loved to have them around, and we spent the next days on the beach with them. It was the first day we spent on the beach since we are on holidays. One of the days we spent there we took a water taxi from Totaranui to Tonga Bay and we did a bit of he Abel Tasman Track. Many of the places in New Zealand you can only visit by walking there.
In this way, nature stays well preserved and I have to say that NZ are doing it great, because they provide you with the tracks and places to stay during the “Traverse” and at the same time they can keep preserving this areas and the people can enjoy it. Unfortunately, the time arrived to leave the South Island and we had to take the ferry to Wellington. Taking the ferry marked the end of our South Island adventure and I have to say that we miss travelling by push-bikes, we were used to feel every sensation, smell the air and suffer till our next destination, hear every sound…and by car you can just smell petrol and hear the engine and you pass that fast that you miss a lot of things on the way which makes me very upset and angry many times because I can not even read the traffic signals!!!!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
End of Journey!!!!!
Helloooo!
We are sorry we haven't been updating the website since we left Queenstown but we have been too busy cycling and enjoying ourselves. We will, however, tell you all about our adventures between Queenstown and Invercargill where we arrived yesterday...and this will be the end point of our journey!
It would have been nicer to have told you all the last bit of our journey in chronological order but we have no time to spend in front of the computer, we are having too much fun.
We could not have asked for a more exciting finale to our adventure. Ever since we left Queenstown, Ella is becoming less and less keen on sitting in the buggy. It has been 3 months and although we initially planned to continue back up via the East Coast, we reckon we better listen to our daughter and stop here in the beautiful far South. Ella has been a happy girl for the whole trip but it's time to relax.
Tomorrow we are going to Stewart Island for a few days.
At the moment we are staying at what we consider the best place to end the journey, a very peaceful private reserve in the Invercargill Estuary, surrounded by foresr, swamp and seashore. We couldn't wish for a more suitable way to finish our adventure.
We will get this website updated with photos and stories, as we still have a lot to tell but for now, we are relaxing!
Bye for now
We are sorry we haven't been updating the website since we left Queenstown but we have been too busy cycling and enjoying ourselves. We will, however, tell you all about our adventures between Queenstown and Invercargill where we arrived yesterday...and this will be the end point of our journey!
It would have been nicer to have told you all the last bit of our journey in chronological order but we have no time to spend in front of the computer, we are having too much fun.
We could not have asked for a more exciting finale to our adventure. Ever since we left Queenstown, Ella is becoming less and less keen on sitting in the buggy. It has been 3 months and although we initially planned to continue back up via the East Coast, we reckon we better listen to our daughter and stop here in the beautiful far South. Ella has been a happy girl for the whole trip but it's time to relax.
Tomorrow we are going to Stewart Island for a few days.
At the moment we are staying at what we consider the best place to end the journey, a very peaceful private reserve in the Invercargill Estuary, surrounded by foresr, swamp and seashore. We couldn't wish for a more suitable way to finish our adventure.
We will get this website updated with photos and stories, as we still have a lot to tell but for now, we are relaxing!
Bye for now
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Queenstown to Mavora Lakes
This morning at 10.00 we took the "Earnslaw", a steamboat that took us from Queenstown to Walter Peak Station. 45 minutes later and after a beautiful and smooth journey across the lake we arrived at Walter Peak, a beautiful sheep farm in colonial style and gardens. From here a 90 km long gravel road connects with the highway that goes to Te Anau. We knew we could not make it in one day so we aimed to get to the campsite at the Mavora Lakes, which was still a big ask as most of the 55km were going to be uphill. Our journey via this gravel road proved to be the most challenging adventure we had ever done by bicycle. Before we ventured out on this road we asked advice to numerous people: local cyclists who had cycled it, bikeshop owners and cycle tourists and they all said that the track, although it was gravel, was in good condition and we would be fine, even with the buggy and trolley. Not so!
At the start of the track we had to deal with very rocky terrain that shook the buggy and Ella would not have it. We walked for about one kilometer to see if it would get any better but no such luck and Ella refused to continue in the buggy which was now covered in dust.
We had an idea. We took out the carrier bag, a type of backpack in which Ella is very happy to sit in and we got her in there. She smiled in approval and we continued, Vanessa with a backpack that normally sits on my bicycle, and I put Ella on my back. Every cyclist in the world knows that a backpack is the worst possible means of carrying your stuff when cycling but we did not have much choice. We slowly got on our way, climbing the gravel road alongside spectacular scenery, with Mount Aspiring at the horizon.
All of a sudden, a yellow plane appeared from nowhere and flew right across, one of the few signs of human presence we were going to witness until getting to the main road again. After some 20 km we had to wade through a river and we entered deeper and deeper into a very impressive valley. Not a soul in sight, only cows and even bulls roaming free. Ella was starting to get heavy on my shoulder but most of all my behind. Her weight pushed me hard onto the saddle and it felt as if I had been sitting on a lit candle. We stopped just before a climb of 4 km to have lunch. A Toyota Landcruiser passed us, wishing us good luck. I was wishing for leather buttocks.
The hill, or as they call it here in New Zealand, the saddle, was tremendously tough and we did most of it walking. We were exhausted when we got to the top. The views are incredibly: we are surrounded by mountains,the only sound is the wind blowing across the wide valley and there is no sign of civilization as far as the eye can see...and the horizon seems very far away!
We were so releaved to have finished climbing that saddle that we had high hopes we could do the remaining 30 km and reach the campground in 3 hours. This proved to be a grave miscalculation. We thought the road would now gradually descent to the lakes but once again, we did too much thinking. The ups and downs on this difficult gravel road and a head wind made it very hard to keep going. We frequently had to stop to rest and drink. This might be an easy gravel road when you are on a single mountain bike but with a trolley and buggy it is extremely hard work. The track also has plenty of cattle grids that rocked our very foundations. I am surprised we still got all our teeth. We can´t remember exactly but it might have been with 15 km left when I cracked, I hit rock bottom and could not see how I could continue carrying Ella. I had reached my physical limit. We stopped at a river and after a few minutes of senseless screaming on my behalf, we found energy to do the last 15 km. I cannot explain how I felt, let alone how Vanessa felt but I remember not being able to stop thinking "I do not want to be here".
The conditions of the track got worse as the gravel got thicker. The 4-wheel tracks were no good to us as our trolleys did not fit so their wheels kept slipping away in the thick gravel. We started this morning at 11.00, we still had 10 km to go and it was already 19.00. At 5km per hour and regular stops, time was against us and we were getting desperate and worried.
As I was getting more and more exhausted, I remember having visions. At one point, I thought I saw a fence in the distance but when we got closer, there was nothing there. I also so a car parked, and a man reading a book but both events turned out to be images ocurring in my head and it´s quite eerie.
Vanessa and I agreed we would not stop anymore until reaching the campground.
It took us another 2 hours to complete the remaining 10 km, with another river crossing and the very unpleasant surprise that the campground was another 5 km from the main track. We had to take a side track that continued along the lake and it seemed forever before we got to an open space with a table and toilet. That was it. That was the campsite. Those last 5 km we walked, taking turns to carry Ella. The person who was not carrying Ella cycled ahead to see how far we still had to go. It was hell. It took us 10 hours to cycle 55 km and to get to this "campsite". We lit a fire and had a massive plate of ravioli with pesto. During this whole adventure, Ella remained so strong and behaved so well, she really is an extraordinary little lady. I also had to come to the conclusion that I am the weakest of the three, screaming and shouting like a spoilt little boy when things get rough. I knew Vanessa was strong but today she blew me sideways. While I was complaining, she just kept going.
Our reward was right in front of us: pure wilderness. Nothing but forest and mountains, a beautiful green coloured lake, trout continuously jumping out of the water hunting flies, birds everywhere and a beautiful clear sky. At night the sounds of the animals kept me awake but I loved it. You could here all sorts of animals, I guess mainly birds, right next to the tent looking for food or whatever it is they think they can get out of a tent. Most birds in New Zealand are extremely curious anyway and they will come right up to you. In the morning we had a couple of robins sitting in our tent. When we had breakfast, one was sitting on my shoe! A tomtit joined the fun and sat on my cup of tea. A little wren started investigating our bycicles and I think I even saw a whitehead (do they exist?). Ella loved it and especially enjoyed the robins who just would not leave.
We had to leave though as we had another 30 km via difficult gravel road ahead of us.
At the start of the track we had to deal with very rocky terrain that shook the buggy and Ella would not have it. We walked for about one kilometer to see if it would get any better but no such luck and Ella refused to continue in the buggy which was now covered in dust.
We had an idea. We took out the carrier bag, a type of backpack in which Ella is very happy to sit in and we got her in there. She smiled in approval and we continued, Vanessa with a backpack that normally sits on my bicycle, and I put Ella on my back. Every cyclist in the world knows that a backpack is the worst possible means of carrying your stuff when cycling but we did not have much choice. We slowly got on our way, climbing the gravel road alongside spectacular scenery, with Mount Aspiring at the horizon.
All of a sudden, a yellow plane appeared from nowhere and flew right across, one of the few signs of human presence we were going to witness until getting to the main road again. After some 20 km we had to wade through a river and we entered deeper and deeper into a very impressive valley. Not a soul in sight, only cows and even bulls roaming free. Ella was starting to get heavy on my shoulder but most of all my behind. Her weight pushed me hard onto the saddle and it felt as if I had been sitting on a lit candle. We stopped just before a climb of 4 km to have lunch. A Toyota Landcruiser passed us, wishing us good luck. I was wishing for leather buttocks.
The hill, or as they call it here in New Zealand, the saddle, was tremendously tough and we did most of it walking. We were exhausted when we got to the top. The views are incredibly: we are surrounded by mountains,the only sound is the wind blowing across the wide valley and there is no sign of civilization as far as the eye can see...and the horizon seems very far away!
We were so releaved to have finished climbing that saddle that we had high hopes we could do the remaining 30 km and reach the campground in 3 hours. This proved to be a grave miscalculation. We thought the road would now gradually descent to the lakes but once again, we did too much thinking. The ups and downs on this difficult gravel road and a head wind made it very hard to keep going. We frequently had to stop to rest and drink. This might be an easy gravel road when you are on a single mountain bike but with a trolley and buggy it is extremely hard work. The track also has plenty of cattle grids that rocked our very foundations. I am surprised we still got all our teeth. We can´t remember exactly but it might have been with 15 km left when I cracked, I hit rock bottom and could not see how I could continue carrying Ella. I had reached my physical limit. We stopped at a river and after a few minutes of senseless screaming on my behalf, we found energy to do the last 15 km. I cannot explain how I felt, let alone how Vanessa felt but I remember not being able to stop thinking "I do not want to be here".
The conditions of the track got worse as the gravel got thicker. The 4-wheel tracks were no good to us as our trolleys did not fit so their wheels kept slipping away in the thick gravel. We started this morning at 11.00, we still had 10 km to go and it was already 19.00. At 5km per hour and regular stops, time was against us and we were getting desperate and worried.
As I was getting more and more exhausted, I remember having visions. At one point, I thought I saw a fence in the distance but when we got closer, there was nothing there. I also so a car parked, and a man reading a book but both events turned out to be images ocurring in my head and it´s quite eerie.
Vanessa and I agreed we would not stop anymore until reaching the campground.
It took us another 2 hours to complete the remaining 10 km, with another river crossing and the very unpleasant surprise that the campground was another 5 km from the main track. We had to take a side track that continued along the lake and it seemed forever before we got to an open space with a table and toilet. That was it. That was the campsite. Those last 5 km we walked, taking turns to carry Ella. The person who was not carrying Ella cycled ahead to see how far we still had to go. It was hell. It took us 10 hours to cycle 55 km and to get to this "campsite". We lit a fire and had a massive plate of ravioli with pesto. During this whole adventure, Ella remained so strong and behaved so well, she really is an extraordinary little lady. I also had to come to the conclusion that I am the weakest of the three, screaming and shouting like a spoilt little boy when things get rough. I knew Vanessa was strong but today she blew me sideways. While I was complaining, she just kept going.
Our reward was right in front of us: pure wilderness. Nothing but forest and mountains, a beautiful green coloured lake, trout continuously jumping out of the water hunting flies, birds everywhere and a beautiful clear sky. At night the sounds of the animals kept me awake but I loved it. You could here all sorts of animals, I guess mainly birds, right next to the tent looking for food or whatever it is they think they can get out of a tent. Most birds in New Zealand are extremely curious anyway and they will come right up to you. In the morning we had a couple of robins sitting in our tent. When we had breakfast, one was sitting on my shoe! A tomtit joined the fun and sat on my cup of tea. A little wren started investigating our bycicles and I think I even saw a whitehead (do they exist?). Ella loved it and especially enjoyed the robins who just would not leave.
We had to leave though as we had another 30 km via difficult gravel road ahead of us.
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